Offered by the Office of Information Technology
The Office of Information Technology provides information technology training and consulting services for the entire American University community. Our Technical Training team comprises dedicated educators who design, administer, and deliver the technical training curriculum. The team leverages industry best practices to design and implement learning solutions that meet university goals and IT process standards.
ADOBE DREAMWEAVER: INTRODUCTION Learn how to create remarkable web pages and sites by building a basic page and then work with hyperlinks, format text to visually enhance a web page, add graphics, and manage your web files using the site window.
Workshop length: 3 hours
ADOBE DREAMWEAVER: ADVANCED Expand on the introductory course content to build more sophisticated websites and learn to create rollovers and navigation bars, develop library items, create templates, and upload files to a website. Workshop length: 3 hours
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP: INTRODUCTION This course provides an overview of Adobe Photoshop to edit digital images. Learn how to manipulate graphics and images, adjust the color of images, crop and recast an image, create web-ready graphics, use the painting and editing tools, and save images in various graphic formats.
Workshop length: 3 hours
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP: ADVANCED Learn about the more sophisticated features of Adobe Photoshop to create perfect compositions, vivid collages, and breathtaking scenes, including flexible layers and precise selection. Explore ways to retouch and repair images, automate and create a web gallery.
Workshop length: 3 hours
AiM: INTRODUCTION*
This video will introduce you to AiM, the integrated workplace management system, used by Facilities Management. You will learn how to use the AiM application to create a new customer request, a work order, a personal query, a counter release, and much more.
Workshop length: 40 minutes AVAYA UNIFIED MESSAGING*
View this online course to learn how to use AU’s Unified Messaging system, which provides one location for your email, voicemail, and faxes. Learn to navigate and configure the system; listen to voicemail messages on your computer, telephone, or mobile device; and access your messages via mobile device while traveling.
Workshop length: 30 minutes *Courses only available online.
“It was a highly informative three hour course. I’ve used Photoshop for years, and the trainer taught me new methods and applications using advanced Photoshop techniques that were outstanding. She was practical, informed and clear in her explanations and demonstrations. A really outstanding course.”
Technology Training
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI): INTRODUCTION TO REPORTING Required for all new BI account holders American University uses the MicroStrategy
Business Intelligence tool to analyze trends, perform forecasting, create scorecards and dashboards, and proactively deliver timely information to organizations. This foundation level course will introduce you to the concept of Business Intelligence methodologies, processes, architectures, and
technologies. You will learn how to run reports, use the MicroStrategy toolbar, visualize and export data, and use the history and subscription lists.
Workshop length: 2 hours
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI):
FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR BUDGET OFFICERS
Prerequisite: A valid BI account, completion of the Introduction to BI Reporting course, and BI Analyst designation
American University budget officers will learn how to use the MicroStrategy Business Intelligence tool to conduct financial reporting. Learn about the BI interface and environment, and practice running a Single Project Expenses Report by date range and a multiple project detailed GL expense report. Manipulate data, filter content, and distribute existing reports without changing the report structure or content. Then, create these same two reports using MicroStrategy reporting objects, including facts, attributes, and hierarchies. Discover how to manipulate application objects such as metrics, templates, filters and prompts, and practice applying custom formatting to BI reports.
Workshop length: 3 hours
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI): SPExS REPORTING HIGHLIGHTS*
This video will demonstrate how to run the top three reports utilized by SPExS. You will learn how to run the Tuition Revenue Summary, SPExS Billed Tuition Revenue Summary, and SPExS Enrollment Report Summary through the MicroStrategy Business Intelligence tool.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI): ONLINE WEB REPORTING TUTORIAL FOR
ANALYSTS*
This online tutorial will teach analysts about MicroStrategy reporting objects, including facts, attributes, and hierarchies. Learn how to add
application objects, such as attributes, metrics, filters and prompts to a new report template that will provide BI users with a view of their domain data. Also, apply custom formatting to BI reports. Workshop length: 40 minutes
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI): WEB REPORTING FOR ANALYSTS
Prerequisite: A valid BI account, completion of the Introduction to BI Reporting Course, and BI Analyst designation
BI analysts will learn how to create and manipulate MicroStrategy reports to deliver specific data to their customers using MicroStrategy reporting objects, including facts, attributes, and hierarchies. Learn how to add application objects, such as attributes, metrics, filters and prompts, to a new report template that will provide BI users with a view of their domain data. Also, apply custom formatting to BI reports.
Technology Training
COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN USER INTERFACE (UI): INTRODUCTION* Required for all new Colleague account holders Complete this required online course to be granted your Colleague login credentials. Learn how to log on to Web UI, navigate through the system, add favorites, enter and modify data, and print reports. You will also be made aware of security best practices for utilizing the system.
Workshop length: 30 minutes
COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN GENERAL LEDGER*
Prerequisite: A valid Colleague account
This video prepares you to utilize the Colleague financial general ledger to manage your department’s financial data. Learn how to perform standard look- ups, and run reports to get the latest information on encumbrances, expenditures, and remaining budget amounts. You will also become familiar with the American University budget cycle.
Workshop length: 40 minutes COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN PURCHASING*
Prerequisite: A valid Colleague account
This video will show you how to create purchase requisitions and research purchase orders, vendors, or voucher information in the Colleague financial system. You will also learn about the American University budget cycle.
Workshop length: 40 minutes
COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN: USING THE GLBA SCREEN*
This video focuses exclusively on how to run the General Ledger Budget to Actual (GLBA) report in the Colleague financial system. GLBA generates a report based on fiscal year, start and end dates, transaction dates, and general ledger account definitions. Run the report to see the allocated budget, actual expenses, percentage expended, and remaining balance for an account.
COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN: USING THE GLBR SCREEN*
This video focuses exclusively on how to run the General Ledger Budget Report (GLBR) in the Colleague financial system. Use GLBR to run a report for budget line items that compares the annual allocated budget or year-to-date allocated budget to year-to-date actual activity and year-to- date encumbrance activity.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
COLLEAGUE® BY ELLUCIAN: USING THE XGAR SCREEN*
This video focuses on how to run the XGAR detailed activity report in the Colleague financial system. XGAR generates a report based on fiscal year, start and end dates, transaction dates, and General Ledger account definition. The XGAR report is used to ensure that revenue and expenses have posted correctly.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
COMMONSPOT: INTRODUCTION
Required for all new CommonSpot account holders Receive an introduction to CommonSpot, American University’s content management system that hosts american.edu. You will be introduced to site access permissions, user roles, and page types. Learn to log on to the system, understand the layout of a department landing page, navigate through the pages in your subsite and update existing content.
Workshop length: 2 hours
COMMONSPOT: INTERMEDIATE Prerequisite: A valid CommonSpot account
Enhance the skills you learned in the introductory CommonSpot course. Create a basic page from a news story template and a custom page based on a layout template. Learn how to upload a photo and PDF files, utilize custom elements on a page, including a tout with a call-to-action, filtered elements, a text block with photo, and slider gallery.
Technology Training
COMMONSPOT: ADVANCED
Further strengthen and enhance your CommonSpot skills by learning how to add video media elements to your web page, edit the left navigation for your subsite, manage web profiles and departmental data, create a simple form, and add social networking buttons.
Workshop length: 2 hours
COMMONSPOT: CREATING A SLIDER GALLERY*
Learn how to enhance your webpages by adding a slider gallery that presents multiple images and video using preset timings.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
COMMONSPOT: EDITING A TEXT BLOCK* Learn how to edit one of the most common elements on a CommonSpot webpage - the Text Block. In addition to editing text, this video will show you how to add a photo to each text block on your webpage.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
DATA CUSTODIAN REVIEW PROCESS* Created specifically for university data custodians, this video details the process required to review and verify user access to core systems including
Colleague® by Ellucian, the EagleData Warehouse,
AU Portal, and the CMS. Learn how to access the
EAGLEDATA: INTRODUCTION*
Required for all new EagleData account holders Complete this required online course to be granted your EagleData login credentials when you have been approved for an EagleData warehouse account. Learn how to log on to EagleData, understand the application interface, access the self-service report links, and export report data to Microsoft Excel. You will also be made aware of security best practices for utilizing the system.
Workshop length: 30 minutes
ELLUCIAN RECRUITER: ACCESSING RECRUITER*
This video focuses on how to access the Ellucian Recruiter application. You will learn how to log on using American University’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) and will learn basic navigational skills for working in Recruiter.
Workshop length: 10 minutes
ELLUCIAN RECRUITER: CRM SOLUTION Prerequisite: A valid Ellucian Recruiter account In this course you will learn about basic navigation, as well as how to manage prospects, applications and supplemental information, review an application folder, make a decision, and send to Ellucian Colleague. In addition, you will learn how to automate communications using workflow, use ExactTarget emails, check for wait conditions, and set up events and travels. This course will demonstrate a blend of technical and functional aspects of Recruiter.
Workshop length: 7 hours *Courses only available online. “The trainer was very helpful. The additional
information she sent along after the course was much appreciated.”
Technology Training
FACULTY ACTIVITY REPORTING SYSTEM: INTRODUCTION*
This video will show you how to navigate the Faculty Activity Reporting System (FARS) to record your annual activities, such as: teaching and advising, published and in-process research, creative and professional activities, grants, lectures and conferences, and internal and external activities. You will also learn how to run annual reports with a few keystrokes in this user-friendly system.
Workshop length: 35 minutes
FILE SHARING AND THE CLOUD* Cloud computing involves moving data off your computer and off American University premises. All members of the university community have a responsibility to protect university data from unauthorized generation, access, modification, disclosure, transmission, or destruction. This video covers steps users should take to protect confidential university data when using Cloud services and how AU’s Information Security Team can work with you to enforce university policies and standards.
Workshop length: 10 minutes INFORMER 101*
Required for all new Informer account holders Learn how the powerful Entrinsik Informer reporting tool provides you with access to real- time data from one or more databases through an intuitive web interface. Explore how to navigate through the tool, search for reports, and export results into multiple formats. Participants also will learn to analyze results by filtering, graphing, and exporting the data.
Workshop length: 40 minutes *Courses only available online.
INFORMER REPORTS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS
Prerequisite: A valid Informer account
Learn to use the self service reports developed for Development and Alumni Relations with Entrinsik’s Informer reporting tool that provides you with access to real-time data through an intuitive web interface. Explore how to navigate through the tool, search for reports, and export results into multiple formats. You will also learn to analyze results by filtering, graphing, and exporting data.
Workshop length: 2 hours iSUPPORT: INTRODUCTION
Required for all new iSupport account holders iSupport is American University’s enterprise case management system used in many departments across the campus to manage customer contacts and simplify support. The web-based interface integrates incident, problem, and change management
processes. Customized classroom group training is provided for participating internal organizations. Workshop length: 2 hours
iSUPPORT: CREATING, ROUTING, AND CLOSING TICKETS*
Learn how to use the iSupport case management system to create, route, and close incident tickets. You will learn how to use the Template feature to quickly create tickets, route tickets individually or by using the queue feature, and how to close and search for tickets.
Workshop length: 15 minutes
LOTUS NOTES: INTRODUCTION This course teaches you the basic skills and knowledge necessary to use the essential features of Lotus Notes, IBM’s email, calendar, and group collaboration software. You will learn how to customize the workstation environment, manage your email and voice mail messages, use address books, use and manage a personal calendar, and set your Out of Office agent while you are away.
Technology Training
LOTUS NOTES: ADVANCED
Build on the skills that you learned in the Lotus Notes Introduction course. Learn how to work with graphic objects, add tables to a mail object, create reusable stationery, automate Notes tasks, use Notes as a time management tool, explore the collaborative features of Notes, and create both image and HTML signature files.
Workshop length: 2 hours
MICROSOFT EXCEL 2013: INTRODUCTION The Introduction to Microsoft Excel 2013 course will demonstrate the functionality of a spreadsheet and the ease of use in storing, manipulating, analyzing, and visualizing data. This course is for beginners and those interested in a spreadsheet refresher course. Learn the benefits of working with Excel as well as how to create a basic Excel worksheet that combines text, numbers, and formulas. Explore the Excel 2013 environment, insert and rename worksheets, customize the quick access toolbar, create and copy data and formulas, add column headings to help with sorting, change the appearance of a worksheet using a variety of formatting
techniques, define a range, apply headers and footers to the worksheet, and prepare a worksheet for printing.
Workshop length: 3 hours
MICROSOFT EXCEL 2013: INTERMEDIATE Grow your expertise by building on the skills learned in the introduction course. Work with multiple worksheets to consolidate data and add 3-D references to formulas, use logical functions with comparison operators, create custom formats, view data based on autofilters, create multi-level sorts, remove duplicates and find unique values,
MICROSOFT EXCEL 2013: ADVANCED Build on the data organization and spreadsheet skills learned in the introductory and intermediate Microsoft Excel courses. Learn how to customize the Excel environment; apply conditional formatting to emphasize specific data elements; work with comments; differentiate between formulas, values, and formats when using the paste special command; create range names; work with pivot tables; evaluate data with subtotals; and correct worksheet errors. Workshop length: 3 hours
MICROSOFT OFFICE 2013: NEW FEATURES
Prerequisite: Proficiency in earlier versions of MS Office
This course provides an overview of the new features in Microsoft Office 2013, highlighting the changes in features and functionality in the newest version of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Publisher. This course is designed for experienced Microsoft Office users who have worked with earlier versions and who have, or are planning to, upgrade to Microsoft Office 2013. Workshop length: 2 hours
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2013: INTRODUCTION
Learn to create professional presentations and slide shows on Microsoft PowerPoint. Identify on-screen
“The trainer was excellent. She customized the course to my specific needs, informed me of special language used with speaking about Excel, and gave many real life examples that I will include when staff request Excel documents.”
Technology Training
MICROSOFT POWERPOINT 2013: ADVANCED
Take your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation skills to the next level by building on the skills that you learned in the introductory course. Learn how to link to a file from a slide, embed document content on a slide, add narration to a presentation, create a new slide master, enhance slide layouts, and add movies to slides.
Workshop length: 3 hours
MICROSOFT WORD 2013: NEW FEATURES AND WORKING WITH IMAGES
Learn the new features of Microsoft Word 2013 including viewing in read mode, using object zoom, incorporating online video, editing PDFs, layout, aligning guides, using table border tools, and
presenting a document online to remote users. Then, work with images in your document to insert online pictures, wrap text, adjust layout options, and adjust images.
Workshop length: 2 hours
NEW STAFF TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION Required for all new staff
Receive access to your AU accounts at the new hire orientation and get a comprehensive introduction to the technology that you will need to interact with each day to perform your job responsibilities, including the internal MyAU Web portal, the Avaya Unified Messaging system for voicemail and faxes, and AU’s email application.
Workshop length: 2 hours
R25/25LIVE FOR REQUESTERS*
R25/25Live is the web-based application used to schedule space for campus events and publicize events on the master calendar. This video will teach space requesters how to browse available spaces in real time; customize personal preferences; identify self-service spaces, and submit a space request. Workshop length: 30 minutes
R25/25LIVE CHECKING THE STATUS OF YOUR EVENT REQUEST*
Prerequisite: A valid R25/25Live account Before advertisement of your event, the status of your request must be confirmed by an authorized Scheduler. This video is for anyone who has requested space on campus and wants to check whether his/her request for space has been “confirmed” or “denied.”
Workshop length: 10 minutes
Account questions should be directed to University Event Scheduling 202-885-3939. R25/25LIVE FOR REQUESTERS WITH SPACE SCHEDULING ABILITY*
R25/25Live is the web-based application used to schedule space for campus events and publicize events on the master calendar. This video will teach pre-approved sub-schedulers (space assigners) how to process requests, assign spaces, create new events, and customize personal preferences. Learn how to submit a space request, schedule a space that you control, and confirm an event.
Workshop length: 30 minutes
Account questions should be directed to University Event Scheduling 202-885-3939. REDUCING YOUR DIGITAL RISK SERIES* This series of 30 brief online courses provide you with critical tools to understand information security topics in the digital age. Your journey begins with the required course: “Reducing your Digital Risk – Introduction.” Once you have completed this course, you can select from courses including best practices for managing passwords, personally identifiable information, and data encryption. Learn how to properly delete data, manage Wi-Fi security, protect your computer, and much more.
Workshop length: 3 minutes each *Courses only available online.
Technology Training
REDUCING YOUR DIGITAL RISK – TIPS* A successful security program can only be achieved with everyone’s participation. Whether you are a staff, faculty, student, visitor, or alumni, you have the responsibility to manage the risk under your purview